Altneuland. [Old-New Land].

HERZL, Theodor.

Item Number: 143520

Leipzig: Hermann Seemann Nachfolger, 1902.

Third edition of Herzl’s classic Zionist novel envisioning the future Jewish state as a socialist utopia. Octavo, recased with the original publisher’s illustrated front wrapper laid down. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the title page, “Dem Zionisten Heinrich Steiner 11 X 1902 Th. Herzl.” The recipient, Hungarian author and publisher Heinrich Elchanan York-Steiner was a prominent Zionist. He participated in all phases of early Zionist activity and was instrumental in convening the First Zionist Congress as well as conceptualizing and organizing the publication of Die Welt, the newspaper that became the official organ of the World Zionist Organization. At the First Zionist Congress (1897) he submitted, on behalf of the organization commission, the proposals for adapting the constitution of the World Zionist Movement to the legislative requirements of various countries. These proposals became the basis of the Statute of the Zionist Organization. After Herzl’s death York-Steiner fought for strict adherence to Herzl’s political Zionism and strongly opposed the gradual expansion of Zionist activities to other spheres in the Diaspora according to the Helsingfors Program (1906), as well as premature, unorganized settlement in Ereẓ Israel. When the practical Zionists attained the leadership of the movement in 1911, he left and later settled in Palestine. In very good condition with professional restoration. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery. Books signed and inscribed by Herzl are rare.

Published six years after Der Judenstaat, Herzl's Zionist novel Altneuland expanded on his vision for an independent Jewish state and soon became one of the Zionist movement's establishing texts. Here Herzl's presents a blueprint for the future Jewish state as a socialist utopia, envisioning a new society in the land of Israel on a cooperative basis, utilizing science and technology in developing the land. Set in Haifa, the novel presents detailed proposals for the future state's political structure, immigration policies, fundraising, social laws, and diplomatic relations. Both ideological and utopian, it presents a model society with a liberal and egalitarian social model, resembling a modern welfare society. Herzl called his model "Mutualism" and based it on a mixed economy with public ownership of the land and natural resources, agricultural cooperatives, and welfare, as well as the encouragement of private entrepreneurship. A true modernist, Herzl rejected the European class system, yet remained loyal to Europe's cultural heritage foreseeing the new Jewish State as a pluralist, advanced society, "A Light unto the Nations," with tolerance as the basic principle.